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GRPS: Graduation Rates Up, Looking Forward To Growth

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As the school year winds down, Grand Rapids Public Schools close out on a good note. 

Just recently, the Michigan Department of Education released graduation rates for the 2014-2015 school year.  For the fourth consecutive year, GRPS saw a significant increase. 

"The needle is moving - it's moving quickly, and it's heading in the right direction."

John Helmholdt, GRPS communications director, says he excited about the latest graduation rates for the district.  It show rates increasing by more than six percent as compared to last year.

But he says, if you look even deeper - at the last four years since Superintendent Theresa Weatherall Neal took over and launched her transformation plan - the district’s rates have increased even more.

"Over the last four years, our overall graduation rates increased by 12 percent.

"And what’s even more notable, if you break it down by the sub groups: our African American students saw a  21 percent  increase in graduation rates over the last four years. Our Hispanic/Latino students saw a 15 percent increase."

Helmholdt attributes the district success not only to the leadership of the superintendent, but to the district coming together and working together.

"For a long time, [as] your listeners know, GRPS was fractured.  There were public arguments, a lot of us versus them.

"And now we have a cohesive plan, we have a strong leader, and it’s producing results. And it’s not just graduation rates - our suspensions are down,  chronic absenteeism (is) down by 25  percent. It’s all across the board. We’re seeing positive momentum."

Helmholdt says it’s not a panacea. They’ve still got work to do. 

Especially in the areas of test scores, SAT testing and continuing to work on the graduation rates. 

But he says they want to take a moment to recognize the hard work, the good work of the teachers and of the district. 

He says they are even looking forward to growth next year.

"We believe this will be the first year in more than 20 years that we actually increased enrollment. That is huge, to have a stabilized district."

Jennifer is an award winning broadcast news journalist with more than two decades of professional television news experience including the nation's fifth largest news market. She's worked as both news reporter and news anchor for television and radio in markets from Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo all the way to San Francisco, California.
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